The real Downton Abbey, and a California abbey where you could stay

In the wake of Downton Abbey’s Season 3 premier this weekend, we’ve been thinking about the real estate aspect of this hit PBS show. Why do the Earl and Countess of Grantham live in an abbey? Was the show really shot in a historic abbey? And, most importantly, could we live in an abbey here in California?

To answer the first question, we took a history lesson at Wikipedia U, and learned that wealthy (or once wealthy) families living in abbeys or monasteries came about after King Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in the 16th century. The monks were turned out, but the grand old buildings stood, and were sold or given away as lavish homes. Jane Austen fans will remember that some of her characters occupied abbeys as well, like in the novel Northanger Abbey.

The answer to the second question — Was the show shot in a real abbey? — is no. It was shot in a real castle, though. Highclere Castle, in Newbury, England, is the real-life home of a real-life earl and countess, just like on the show. The Earl and Countess of Carnarvon — who say on their Web site that they are longtime friends of series writer Julian Fellowes — open their home to visitors during spring and summer, and you can buy tickets online. You can even book the castle for a wedding or dinner party — although we imagine you’ll have to book pretty far in advance now that the popular show has made the estate so famous. If you can’t make the trip to England, you can even shop the gift shop online. Perhaps you’d like to read the current Countess of Carnarvon’s book, Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey. Here are some photos from the house when it’s not dressed as a set — some will look very familiar to viewers.

Photo: http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk

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The familiar exterior of Highclere Castle, as Downton Abbey, inevitably brings to mind the opening bars of the Masterpiece Theatre theme.

The familiar exterior of Highclere Castle, as Downton Abbey, inevitably brings to mind the opening bars of the Masterpiece Theatre theme.

Photo: http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk

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The home's gallery is a familiar sight from the show.

The home's gallery is a familiar sight from the show.

Photo: http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk

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Does the main saloon look familiar?

Does the main saloon look familiar?

Photo: http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk

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The dinner scenes are shot in the home's real state dining room, which includes the large picture of King Charles I on his horse that you can't miss in the background of pointed dinner conversations.

The dinner scenes are shot in the home's real state dining room, which includes the large picture of King Charles I on his horse that you can't miss in the background of pointed dinner conversations.

Photo: http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk

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This is the real downstairs area where the servants ate.

This is the real downstairs area where the servants ate.

Photo: http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk

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We've seen Cora sitting doing needlework in this drawing room.

We've seen Cora sitting doing needlework in this drawing room.

Photo: http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk

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The library is a familiar sight on the show.

The library is a familiar sight on the show.

Photo: http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk

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We're not sure we remember any scenes shot in this morning room.

We're not sure we remember any scenes shot in this morning room.

Photo: http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk

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The music room.

The music room.

Photo: http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk

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The main hall where so many secrets are overheard.

The main hall where so many secrets are overheard.

Photo: http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk

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One of the castle's staircases.

One of the castle's staircases.

Photo: http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk

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The smoking room.

The smoking room.

Photo: http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk

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In one interview, Lady Carnavon said the house has 50 to 80 bedrooms. But the family currently uses only about 15.

In one interview, Lady Carnavon said the house has 50 to 80 bedrooms. But the family currently uses only about 15.

Photo: http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk

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Another bedroom.

Another bedroom.

Photo: http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk

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We can picture a Downton Abbey character languishing with a possibly fatal illness in this four poster.

We can picture a Downton Abbey character languishing with a possibly fatal illness in this four poster.

Finally, what about living in your own version of Downton Abbey, right here in the Bay Area? Well, it’s exceedingly rare for a monastery to come on the market. But you could stay overnight in an abbey. For instance, the Abbey of New Clairvaux up in Vina, Ca., (not far from Chico), invites guests to take a weekend or weeklong retreat in guest quarters. Like Downton Abbey, the monastery offers neither television nor Internet connection. But the similarities end there. Instead of the opulence of the Crawley home, the guest rooms and guest dining room at New Clairvaux look … monastic.

Photo: http://www.newclairvaux.org

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The guest quarters of the New Clairvaux abbey do not bring to mind the opening bars of the Masterpiece Theatre theme.

The guest quarters of the New Clairvaux abbey do not bring to mind the opening bars of the Masterpiece Theatre theme.

Photo: http://www.newclairvaux.org

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A single guest room at New Clairvaux has no fireplace, no valet service, and no promise of intrigue. Quite the contrary, guests are invited to visit the monastery for quiet contemplation.

A single guest room at New Clairvaux has no fireplace, no valet service, and no promise of intrigue. Quite the contrary, guests are invited to visit the monastery for quiet contemplation.

Photo: http://www.newclairvaux.org

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A double guest room is no more opulent than a single.

A double guest room is no more opulent than a single.

Photo: http://www.newclairvaux.org

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At least the bathrooms at New Clairvaux are more modern than at Downton -- and there are no maids to purposely drop bars of soap to make you slip.

At least the bathrooms at New Clairvaux are more modern than at Downton -- and there are no maids to purposely drop bars of soap to make you slip.

Photo: http://www.newclairvaux.org

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One similarity between the two abbeys: They both have libraries. However, the volumes in New Clairvaux's guest library are less likely to be leather bound.

One similarity between the two abbeys: They both have libraries. However, the volumes in New Clairvaux's guest library are less likely to be leather bound.

Photo: http://www.newclairvaux.org

The real Downton Abbey, and a California abbey where you could stay

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Carrie Kirby is a freelance writer who recently returned to the Bay Area after living for six years in Chicago. Carrie is more heavily invested in real estate than she ever expected to be, since she and her husband are now long-distance landlords of their Chicago home, and have also purchased a house in Alameda. She posts about interesting properties and real estate trends in San Francisco and Silicon Valley every Tuesday. Carrie also shares money-saving tips on her blog, Frugalistic Mom.